Method of generating radiant energy and projecting same through free



W. M. MEACHAM'. METHOD OF GENERATING RADIANT ENERGY AND PROJECTING SAME THROUGH FREEAIR FOR PRODUCING HEAT.

APPLICATION FILED "11.12.1915.

Patented Oct. 7, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I W. M. MEACHAM. METHOD OF GENERATING RADIANT ENERGY AND PROJECTING SAME THROUGH FREE AIR FOR PRODUCING HEAT. APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 19w.

1 ,3 1 7,883. PIIIAIIIIIII 001i. 7, 1919.

3 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

mwuawi'wa UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. MEACHAM, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

METHOD OF GENERATING RADIANT ENERGY AND PBOJECTING SAME THROUGH FREE To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. MEAOHAM, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Generating Radiant Energy and Projecting Same Through Free Air for Producing Heat, of which the following is a specification. 7

My invention relates to a method of generating radiant energy and projecting same, throughfree air, for producing heat.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus by which radiant energy may be generated from heat and projected through free air with directional control for heating buildings and spaces, from overhead, to give the sense of warmth and comfort, at points distant from the generating apparatus, without regard to the atmospheric temperature, the term free air is herein used referring to air not contained within the apparatus.

By the use of my invention the heating is accomplished by the impact of waves of radiant energy upon'the body to be heated, rather than by conduction or by convection currents in the surrounding air.

The novel features of my invention will be set forth in the following description and will be particularly defined by the'claims which terminate this specification.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have shown forms of mechanism which are now preferred by me in carrying out my invention, being, however, aware that other forms of mechanisms may be employed, which would produce substantially the same re sults.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a heating cell which embodies my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same construction, a portion of the casing being broken away to show the interior-construction. ,1

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section to better show the construction of the heating element.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a heating cell of a modified construction.

Specification of Letters Patent.

AIR FOR PRODUCING HEAT.

Patented Oct. '7, 1919.-

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the same construction showing one side in section.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section and Fig. 7 a bottom plan of one type of installation.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectionof a modified type of installation. I

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9, of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section and Fig. 11 a bottom plan of an installation'showing a modified arrangement and construction of parts.

Fig. 12 is 2; vertical section and Fig. 13 a bottom plan of a modified structure.

The transmission of heat occurs in three ways:

First, by radiant energy, from highly heated bodies, as the sun, hot coals, etc.

Second, by conduction, as between particles which come in physical contact.

Third, by convection, as by currents in a mobile body, as air or water.

These various ways may all be active simultaneously in the heating effect produced by a given body. There will bedifl'erences manifest in the result, however, dependent upon the preponderance of one of the ways over the others.

Radiant energy is dissipated, or absorbed, to only a very slight degree, by passage through air. Within the distances possible in a building this absorption is negligible, as will be apparent from the fact that, of the suns energy, only about one third is lost in its travel to the earth, this loss being mostly in the atmosphere. tage of heating by radiant energy is that its transmission, like the transmission of light, is instantaneous.

Heated bodies give ofl waves of radiant energy, which are transmitted, reflected and One particular advan-- energized heating elements, these being conveniently made as resistance coils 1, which are placed in grooves 10, in a base 2, formed of an insulative and heat-resistant material. The form of these grooves is shown in Fig. 3, these being open at their lower side, but being reduced in width sufliciently to prevent the coils or other heating element from dropping out, this being a practical and extensively used form. In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown similar heating elements supported by bars 12 which extend beneath them.

To surround these heating elements, Fig. 1, with the desired condition, I place them at the top of a hood or inclosing case which is open downwardly, but otherwise closed. This hood or casing may consist of a reflecting inner lining, as 3, of metal or other suitable material, an outer shell 30 and a filling 31 of a heat-insulative material. This may be provided with means for supporting it, as ears 32. i

The purpose of this construction is toprovide a cell or pocket, opening downward, of such construction as will withstand relatively high temperatures, and which will trap a body of air or gas, which, when'heated, may

not escape therefrom by rising, as is the natural tendency of heated air.

With the electricity turned on, the coils '1, or whatever heating element be employed, will become heated, which will heat the air in the top of the pocket or cell. The base 2 will also become heated, the temperature of these parts being raised until they constitute effective disseminators of radiant energy.

As the cell or pocket in which the heating element is placed, is open only downwardly,

and the heating element is at the top of the pocket, no convection currents will be produced, therefore the air contained therein will not tend to escape therefrom, because the hottest layers are at the top and it is.

closed everywhere except at the bottom. As this air becomes heated, it becomes rarefied, thereby losing much of its power of conducting the heat which is emitted from the heating members 1 and the base 2.

To more thoroughly guard against transfer of heat downwardly by conduction. through the body of the lining metal 3, I

.may make one or more breaks therein, as at 3535 and place a layer 36 of insulation between the adjacent sections.

The radiant energy emitted, which impinges upon the walls 3 of the inclosin'g casing or cell, would be reflected downward and through the open mouth. The percentage loss due to absorption by the lining 3 will vary with the material thereof, and may be made very slight.

When these waves of radiant energy impinge upon a non-reflecting body, the energy is transformed into heat, and the body thereby warmed.

In this way is roduced a close imitation of the heating e set of the direct rays of the sun, which warm the earth to a higher temperature than the air through which the rays pass. The result is that a person may feel warm and comfortable while the temperature of the air, as indicated by a thermometer, may be quite cool. It is thus possible to keep warm while maintaining a plentiful supply of fresh and changing air, which is itself at a much lower temperature than would be agreeable under other plans of heating.

'Because of the penetrating power of radiant energy, the heat developed is not confined to the surface of the object heated, but is generated within the mass of the object, in some cases a considerable distance below the surface.

In Figs. i and 5, I have shown another form of device designed for the employment of the same principles.

This type of construction is similar to that described except that the chamber or pocket 33 is designed to reduce the cross sectional area of the radiant waves emitted. It is therefore oppositely tapered, being of smaller diameter at its lower end, instead of at its upper end, as is the case in Fig. 1. It is also lined with fire brick 34;, or another heat-resistant material. In this also, I have shown several heating members 1, instead of a single member. The number of these to be employed would depend upon their construction and the results desired.

With this device the radiant energy would be projected through an opening of smaller cross sectional area than the chamber and would be utilized by causing the rays to impinge upon the body to be heated.

It is well known that meat may be roasted or broiled by exposure to radiant energy emitted by a bed of hot coals, much more quickly and thoroughlythan when heated by conduction, as by bemg fried. It may be cooked faster without burning, the heat penetrating more thoroughly into the body of the meat, than is. possible by conduction. This is due to the penetrating power, of radiant energy, whereby objects which are opaque to light rays are more or less transparent to the waves of radiant energy, from which it follows that heat is developed by the transformation of these waves within all parts of the body subjected thereto. With the heat applied directly to the inner mass of the roast as well as to the surface, it is more quickly and thoroughly cooked than if the heat were applied to, and disseminated through it, by conduction alone.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a construction which is the same in principle as that of Figs. 1 and 2, differing from the latter only in consistin of a multiplicity of cells, sixteen being shown, these being separated by partitions 36. The various cells may be connected up so as to permit their use in any combination desired.

Dividing the heating area, when large, into a number of cells, tends to break or neutralize drafts or currents acting in the space beneath, which otherwise might disturb the air in these cells and its Stratification. As a further preventive of such disturbances of the air within the cell, a sheet of any suitable material which is transparent to the radiant waves, may be placed across the opening of the casing or cell, as shown in Fig. 1" at 9.

Fig. 8 represents a modification in instal lation, the more essential elements being like those before described. In this figure the cell is shown as placed within its axis in an inclined position and opening at an upper corner of a room, or where ceiling and side wall join. I have shown thelower inclined wall as made up of corrugations, 6, which in function and principle are merely shelves designed to catch any hot particleswhich might drop from the heated members at the top of the cell. I have also shown the use of an enveloping layer of de (1 air in the space 5, this being designed as an insulating agent. I may also provide mirrors or re fiecting plates 7, mounted adjustably, as by hinging, at 70, so that the radiated rays may be deflected to any spot or direction wanted.

' In this figure and Fig. 9, which latter is a section at 9-9 of Fig. 8, the heating elements, coils 1, are supported by bars 12.

In Fig. 10,, the cell is shown as having a different interior outline. This outline may be made anything desired.- It may be of any of the known conoidal forms, or of arbitrary shape. In this figure the heating element is incased within a pipe '11, which is heated thereby and forms the radiating member.

In Figs. 12 and 13, the radiating member consists of a hollow element 8, which is connected with pipes 80 which serve as inlet and outlet for hot gases or fluids, by which the member 8 is heated to an effective radiating temperature. This member might be used as a chamber in which a mixture of gas and air were burned.

The essential feature of my invention is not the particular shape or manner of construction of the parts herein. illustrated, but rather the method disclosed, in the carrying out ofwhich these forms of apparatus may be employed, and apparatus which are essentially like those described, when employed in combinations similar to those described and for like purposes.

Having now described my invention, what I desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. The'method of heating which consists in employing a radiating body distant from the object to be heated, retaining and'regeneratively applying to said body the sensible heat produced at said radiating body while projecting the rays of radiant energy in controlled direction.

' of April, 1915.

WILLIAM M. MEACHAM. 

